23-year-old Durban-born designer Minenhle Siphesihle Ntuli has always had a strong passion for functional product design. Armed with an architectural degree from the University of Kwazulu-Natal and currently working as an architectural designer at ARRCC, the now Cape Town-based Ntuli has started a furniture company called Dust.
A response to what he sees as a growing need for multifunctional furniture, his first piece under the Dust brand is the 426 Table. Designed and built with sustainability front of mind, the piece is able to take two forms: as a four-seater or a six-seater. As living areas in the home evolve and become more versatile so should our furniture, Ntuli asserts.
The table is made of a powder coated black square steel frame with a feature that sees two support elements slide out on either side to support the extension portions of the timber top. Materials like brass and steel were carefully chosen to add elements of elegance and neutrality, while timber components add to the table’s versatility and flexibility.
“My aesthetic is very contemporary and minimalistic, drawing inspiration from various art forms including graphic design and photography,” Ntuli told Elle South Africa. “Very minimal, neutral in colours, well curated in composition with a great influence from geometry and various art forms in general.”
Ideal for apartment living or even restaurants, the 426 Table strikes a unique balance between functionality, innovation and elegance. While only the beginning of his furniture design journey, it epitomizes the design philosophy of this emerging South African designer; highly considered, functional furniture that is still appealing to the eye.
